Smartphones and driving usually make for a bad mix. This combination would lead to texting while driving tickets or even worse fatal accidents. You would usually utilize the combo for mainly Google Maps when driving somewhere or trying to find a place. Those of you w/ newer vehicles can rely on your car's infotainment system for that. All of that is about to change.
Setting It Up
When your phone is connected, you just have the Android Auto splash screen. The only way to access the rest of your phone plugged in, you have enter an app via lockscreen or access the notification shade. So when using it, just leave your phone in a cupholder or cubby hole.
Using Android Auto
The homescreen should look familiar as it resembles a more minimal version of your Google now screen. You have all of your relevant info laid out in front of you like local weather w/ high + lows, messages, missed calls, and if you have your Home & Work saved, exactly how long it will take to get to your destination. What more could you ask for in a homescreen?
Google Maps & Voice Recognition/Dictation in the car is a Godsend.
At the forefront of everything is voice recognition as it works just like it does on your smartphone. Being powered by Google, you know how well it works and its limitations through mobile. When receiving messages, you can tap the screen or make use of Google's voice recognition to have it read to you as well as utilize it to reply. This works for Googling things like the weather or what was the last movie your favorite actor was in. Unless you have a thick accent or using a super-specific name/word, it works really good & accurate about 90% of the time.
Google Maps has finally made its way into your car - well sort of. It utilizes you're phone but despite the process, its there. It is lays out everything you would expect to see from the app but now in your car. From live traffic info like accidents to points of interest to 2D to 3D view to making restaurants reservations to pinch-to-zoom and more. Like everything else in Android Auto, it can be accessed via touchscreen or by voice. No disrespect to the other mapping services that carmakers use but there's nothing like having Google Maps in your car.
And lastly, let's delve into the music/media section of the mix. All apps have the lovely Material Design UI throughout so at least its all consistent visually. You have support for your usual suspects like Spotify and Google Play Music of course but then you have additional ones like Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, Stitcher Radio, NPR and that's it for now. Searching for music can be a bit tedious via the touchscreen where you're better off just using your voice for searching artists, playlists, and such. You have podcasts covered w/ Pocket Casts & Stitcher but if you're into audiobooks, there's nothing for you yet.
Android Auto is a great step in the right direction for the future of driving.
TG 2 Cents
Email & social media can lead to distractions that will keep your eyes off of the road longer than necessary. I think this clearly a step into the right direction for the future of driving. This arrives as part of Hyundai's $5,000 tech package as the Sonata itself starts at $23,275. Time will tell if Apple's CarPlay will have the same kind of impact in real-world driving situations.
